Our Summer Experience Guide includes some fantastic new additions to the region to make your visit here all the more enjoyable. A great new cafe on the main street, a specialist Gelateria, a great new boutique, an upcoming gravel bike race and a sweet place to stay with a killer view!
To Perk Up – Hey Juj
Local Elliott Brown is excited to bring some energy to the main street of McLaren Vale, with the bright addition of Hey Juj. Named for his grandmother Jill’s family nickname, this funky venue is a great first stop on arriving in McLaren Vale. The perfect spot for a strong coffee to keep you going all day. Hey Juj also has some delicious breakfast options, including breakfast bao buns, acai bowls and poké bowls . Just the thing to kick off a great day! Or come back on Friday and Saturday evenings to party into the night.
- 150 Main Road, McLaren Vale
- Open 7 days, 6:30am – 3:00pm
- Bar open Fri & Sat 3:00pm – late
- @heyjuj_
To Eat – Gelateca
I don’t think there is a better excuse to visit McLaren Vale this Summer than brand new Gelateca. Super popular local venue Pizzateca is already a hard to beat location, with a cruisy, laid back vibe, delicious, handmade pizzas, and simple but classic Italian fare. So to introduce Gelato to the equation, has made it all the more difficult to resist!
They have even partnered with specialist Gelato maker, and Italian native, Andrea Calabrese for authentic Italian ice-cream. All flavours home made on site, and you can expect classic Italian flavours such as dark chocolate, hazelnut and pistachio, and an adventurous chilli honey flavour as well.
- Chalk Hill Rd, McLaren Vale
- Friday–Monday
- @gela_teca
To Shop – Small Poppy
If you are looking for something beautiful to bring home, either for the little people in your life, or a stylish outfit for yourself, look no further than Small Poppy. A fantastic addition to the McLaren Vale main street, this boutique offers so much. Run by Elena, originally from Italy, and one of Brioni’s good friends, the OT crew have been eyeing off the great selection of fashions and gifts on the instagram page. So make time for a quick stop here on your next visit, and we guarantee you will find something to take home!
- 132 Main Road, McLaren Vale
- Mon-Sat – 10:00am – 4:00pm
- Sun – 11:00am – 3:00pm
- @small_poppy23
To Do – RADL GRVL
Since partnering with F1 driver Valtteri Bottas and partner, professional cyclist, Tiffany Cromwell, on IHANA wines, the OT crew have been swept up in the exciting pursuits of this power couple. One of those upcoming pursuits is gravel bike race, RADL GRVL, held during the 2024 Tour Down Under in Adelaide. Tiffany’s passion for cycling has clearly rubbed off on Valtteri, and his passion for McLaren Vale Shiraz made the location of the race an easy decision. With so many picturesque gravel roads in the area, it will be a race to remember. So if you’re into cycling, sign up for this one straight away. The main event is already sold out, but you can still sign up for the short course. Starting and finishing at our winery facility, it will be a great way to discover a whole new side to the region, just prepare to get a little dusty!
To Stay – Sweet Olive Cliffside
One day is just not enough to see all there is to offer on the Fleurieu Peninsula, so finding a great place to stay is always a good idea. The Sweet Olive Cliffside retreat is that kind of place, perched on the edge of Myponga beach cliffs, overlooking the wide expanse of the southern ocean. The perfect base to explore the stunning beaches along the Fleurieu coast, where you can swim, surf, kayak or SUP. And during the day, come and check out all the wineries and restaurants in McLaren Vale only half an hour away. Look closely and you might even see a few of our bottles around the house, clearly people with exceptional taste 😉
- 629 Myponga Beach Road, Myponga Beach
- @sweet_olive_stay
- Air BnB listing
UPCOMING EVENTS
Porchetta Party – Sunday 25th February
We are thrilled to release our first Porchetta Party for 2024. So get the calendar out and mark off Sunday February 25th to join us for our signature event. And invite some friends along for a fantastic day out for all, great food, delicious wines, cruisy music and good company. Chef Todd Steele will be looking forward to cranking up the spit for that crispy Porchetta.
WHEN 12pm, Sunday 25th February
WHERE 246 Seaview Rd, McLaren Vale
COST $150pp
BOOK oliverstaranga.com/bookings
Summer Vines
Summer is such a great time to visit McLaren Vale and the Fleurieu, with lush green vines, coastal lifestyle and plenty of places to sit outside and soak it all in. So to make it even more enticing, the whole region is getting involved in Summer Vines, a festival celebrating the season. Wineries will be putting on special offers and events between the 19-28 January, and it will also include the Tour Down Under cycling race stages that travel around the region. Make the most of the great weather and join us!
WHEN 19-28 January 2024
BOOK summervines.com.au
OTT Tunes Playlist – Summer 2023/2024
Our Cellar Door team have put together their favourite summer tunes for this season’s playlist, and it’s the soundtrack that will take you from roadtrip, to house party, to chilling on the back deck in the sunshine. Best accompanied with a glass of your favourite wine, download this great mix now, and join us in embracing Summer!